A new method for fabricating orbital prosthesis with a CAD/CAM negative mold

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Proper iris and pupil positioning is crucial for orbital prosthesis aesthetics and function.
• Conventional methods for determining optimal iris placement are often imprecise and difficult to transfer to the final prosthesis.
• Computer simulation offers a potentially more effective approach for measuring and evaluating these features.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel method for fabricating orbital prostheses with precise iris and pupil placement.
• To utilize computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) for creating a negative mold to guide prosthesis fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Designing a negative mold using CAD software to define the optimal iris and pupil position.
• Manufacturing the negative mold using CAM techniques.
• Fabricating the silicone orbital prosthesis using the computer-designed negative mold to ensure accurate component placement.

Main Results:

• The developed method allows for the iris to be designed in the most favorable position within the virtual model.
• The negative mold accurately transfers the designed iris position to the final silicone prosthesis.
• This technique simplifies the accurate replication of the optimal iris placement in the definitive prosthesis.

Conclusions:

• Computer-aided design and manufacturing provide an effective solution for accurately positioning the iris and pupil in orbital prostheses.
• This method overcomes the challenges of transferring virtual designs to physical prostheses, improving fabrication accuracy.
• The demonstrated technique enhances the ability to create aesthetically pleasing and functionally accurate orbital implants.